Vehicle and roof assembly

ABSTRACT

A vehicle has a roof assembly for opening an opening in its fixed roof. The roof assembly includes a frame attached to the vehicle roof and a panel which is movably supported by said stationary part and which can be adjusted by an adjusting mechanism including a driving slide. The panel is movable between a closed position for closing the roof opening, and an open, rearward position for being at least partially above the roof behind the roof opening, in which the roof opening is at least partially released. The frame is fitted with at least one front longitudinal guide track extending at least along the roof opening, whereas a rear longitudinal guide track is mounted at least substantially rearward of the roof opening. The closure element is supported near its front side by a front support which is movably guided by said front longitudinal guide track, and which is supported rearwards thereof by a lifting device comprising a guiding device for engagement in said rear longitudinal guide track upon rearward movement of the panel. The lifting device is adapted to tilt the panel from the closed position in the roof opening to an upwardly inclined venting position on the one hand and to move the panel from the closed position rearwardly on the other hand.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle having an roofassembly that includes a moveable closure element.

[0002] Such an roof assembly is known, for example from DE-C-42 38 944,DE-C-42 38 945, WO-A-98/14342 or WO-A-00/29235. The object of thepresent invention is to provide a new and improved roof assembly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In order to accomplish that objective, the roof assemblyaccording to the invention includes a lifting device that is adapted totilt a closure element or panel from a closed position to an upwardlyinclined position and to move the closure element from the closedposition rearwardly.

[0004] Due to the features of the invention, there is created a separateventing position which is independent from the rearward movement of theclosure element to an open position.

[0005] The advantage is that the maximum venting position can be chosenat will without being bound by a corresponding rearward movement of theclosure element. Also, in the independent rearward movement, the heightof the closure element can be optimized without having to take intoaccount the venting position of the closure element.

[0006] In an advantageous embodiment, the lifting device includes atleast one guide curve which is in engagement with a lifting controlelement of the driving slide. In one embodiment, the lifting deviceincludes two guide curves, one connected to the closure element and oneconnected to the stationary part, the lifting control element of thedriving slide being in engagement with both guide curves and beingadjustable in a vertical direction.

[0007] Due to these features, there is no need for a lifting lever,thereby creating a simple, stable and reliable structure allowing a lowbuilt-in height of the lifting device.

[0008] In a further embodiment, the guide curve is connected to thestationary part is substantially V-shaped in a side view, said liftingcontrol element of the driving slide being positioned at the bottom orlowermost portion of the V-shape when the closure element is in theclosed position. In this case each leg of the V-shape determines thevertical movement of the closure element, one to the venting positionand one to the rearwardly displaced open position.

[0009] In one embodiment, the guiding device includes a guide cam fixedto the closure element, whereas in an alternative embodiment, theguiding device includes a carriage rotatably connected to the closureelement and having at least one and preferably two guide members whichare in engagement with the rear longitudinal guide track.

[0010] In both embodiments, the rear longitudinal guide track caninclude a front portion which is curved downwardly.

[0011] In this manner the guiding device can he used for lifting therear of the closure element when it is moved to an open position.

[0012] The invention will hereafter be explained in more detail withreference to the drawings, showing in a very simple form the principlesof an embodiment of the roof assembly according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIGS. 1a-1 f are longitudinal sectional views of the vehicle roofshowing the roof assembly in different positions.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the front longitudinalguide track and rear longitudinal guide track and the parts guidedtherein.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, but showing the partsfrom the other side.

[0016]FIGS. 4a and 4 b are a perspective view showing the assembly ofparts of FIG. 2 with and without a side bracket.

[0017]FIGS. 5a and 5 b are views corresponding to FIG. 4 but viewed fromthe side of FIG. 3.

[0018]FIGS. 6a-6 d are sectional views along the lines VIa-VIa toVId-VId in FIG. 1.

[0019]FIGS. 7a-7 e are views corresponding to those of FIGS. 1a-1 f butshowing an alternative embodiment of the roof assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] The drawings show an embodiment of a roof assembly for a vehicle,in particular a motor vehicle such as a passenger car. As is shown inFIG. 1, this vehicle is provided with an opening 1 in its fixed roof 2,whereby it is noted that said fixed roof 2 may either form part of thevehicle or of the roof assembly itself, which in that case makes up theentire roof of the vehicle. Likewise, elements of the roof assembly canbe attached to or formed integral with portions of the vehicle roof. Thefixed roof 2 may consist of an integral part of the vehicle or of one ormore (transparent) panels, which may be removable or form a separateadjustable roof element.

[0021] The roof assembly comprises a stationary part, such as a frame 3,and a closure element, in this case in the form of a rigid andpreferably transparent panel 4, for example made of glass or of plasticmaterial, which is movably supported by frame 3. The frame 3 can includeportions about the roof opening 1 as necessary to provide rigidity. Inthis embodiment, panel 4 is movable between a closed position, in whichroof opening 1 is closed and panel 4 is at least substantially coplanarwith the fixed roof 2 (FIG. 2b) and a venting position in which thepanel 4 is rearwardly inclined (FIG. 1a). Furthermore, the panel 4 ismovable between said closed position and an open position, in whichpanel 4 occupies a rearward position, at least partially above fixedroof 2, in which a very large part of opening 2 is cleared (FIG. 1f).

[0022] An adjusting mechanism 5 is provided preferably on eachlongitudinal side of panel 4 for effecting the movements of panel 4. Themechanism 5 is driven by a driving slide 6 coupled to a driving element,such as a driving cable and a manual actuator, such as a crank, or amotor such as an electric motor, for driving the cable. The mechanism 5supports panel 4 and is at least partially guided in a frontlongitudinal guide track 7, which forms part of or is mounted on frame3. The front longitudinal guide track 7 extends along each side edge ofroof opening 1, at a lower level than fixed roof 2. Furthermore, a rearlongitudinal guide track 8 is preferably provided on each longitudinalside of the roof assembly, that is at the fixed root, mainly rearward ofthe roof opening 1 and, in this case, at a lower level than the fixedroof 2.

[0023] The panel 4 includes a front support 9 and a lifting device 10positioned rearwardly thereof. They are both in engagement with thedriving slide 6 which is guided in the front longitudinal guide track 7.

[0024] As is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting device 10 includes twoguide curves 11 and 12, one (11) connected to a side: bracket 13 of thepanel 4, and one (12) fixed to the stationary part, i.e. the frontlongitudinal guide track 7. It further includes a lifting controlelement 14 which is continuously in engagement with guide curve 11 andalso with guide curve 12 when the lifting device is in operation. Guidecurve 11 slightly runs upwardly closer to the panel 4 in a rearwarddirection away from driving slide 6 in the closed position of the panel4. Guide curve 12 has a substantially V-shape, wherein the liftingcontrol element 14 is at the bottom or lowermost position of the V-shapewhen the panel is in its closed position (FIG. 2b, lifting controlelement not shown). The front upward extending leg (closest to drivingslide 6 in the closed position of the panel 4) of the V-shaped guidecurve 12 mainly determines the lifting characteristics when the panel 4is moved to the venting position, and the rear upward extending leg,mainly determines the start of the rearward movement of the panel 4.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, the guide curve 11 is connected to the frontsupport 9 and the lifting control element 14 has a forward extension 15carrying a transverse pin 16 engaging in a straight slot 17 in the frontsupport 9, so as to guide sliding movements of the lifting controlelement 14 and its extension with respect to the panel 4. At theextension 15, on the other side of the pin 16, there is created a slot18 substantially perpendicular to the front longitudinal guide track 7.In this slot 18 engages a pin 19 of the driving slide 6, so as to drivethe lifting control element in the direction of the front longitudinalguide track 7, but allow free (limited) movement of the lifting controlelement 14 (and the panel 4) perpendicular thereto

[0026] The lifting device 10 further includes a guiding device, here inthe form of a rear slider 20 fixed to the panel 4, for example throughthe side bracket 13. The rear slider 20 has a transverse guide cam 21which is adapted to engage the slot of the rear longitudinal guide track8 from one side (FIG. 1c). Referring also to FIGS. 6a-6 d, the rearslider 20 is laterally offset from the lifting device 10 and is arrangedoutwardly of a seal 22 which seals the panel 4 when it is in the closedposition. The rear longitudinal guide track 8 also extends outwardly ofthis seal 22. The front longitudinal guide track 7 extends inwardlythereof. In the closed and venting positions of the panel 4, the guidecam 21 of the rear slider 20 is disengaged from the rear longitudinalguide track 8 (FIG. 1b, and becomes engaged (FIG. 1c) when the panel 4is moved rearwardly from the closed position.

[0027] The front support 9 is connected to the driving slide 6 through apin-slot connection including a slot 23 in the front support 9 and asecond transverse pin 24 on the driving slide 6. Slot 23 has a frontportion 23′ that is substantially parallel to the front longitudinalguide track 7 but is slightly curved to cause a slight vertical movementof the front side of the panel 4 when the pin 24 runs through the slotportion 23′. The rear portion 23″ of slot 23 is substantiallyperpendicular to the front longitudinal guide track 7 so that thedriving slide 6 has a direct driving relation when pin 24 is positionedin slot portion 23″.

[0028] The front support 9 is guided in the front longitudinal guidetrack 7 by means of a slide shoe 25 which is slidably engaged in alateral slot of the front longitudinal guide track 7. The frontlongitudinal guide track 7 includes a front portion 26 slopingdownwardly successively at two different angles to the frontlongitudinal guide track 7. The slide shoe 25 of front support 9 is inengagement with said front portion 26 when the panel 4 is in its frontpositions, either closed or in the venting position.

[0029] The operation of the roof assembly will be explained withreference to FIGS. 1a-1 f.

[0030] In FIG. 1b, the panel 4 is in its closed position. In thisposition, the control lifting element 14 is at the bottom of theV-shaped guide curve 12. The guide cam 21 of the rear slider 20 is infront of the open front end of the rear longitudinal guide track 8. Theslide shoe 25 of the front support 9 is in the front portion 26 of thefront longitudinal guide track 7. The pin 19 on the driving slide 6 isat the transition of both portions 23′ and 23″ of the slot 23 in thefront support 9.

[0031] When the driving slide 6 is moved forwardly (away from rearlongitudinal guide track 8) in the front longitudinal guide track 7, thepanel 4 is tilted to its inclined venting position as the liftingcontrol element 14 has lifted the rear side of the panel 4 due to itstravel along the corresponding leg of the V-shaped guide curve 12 andalong the downwardly sloping part of the guide curve 13. The pin 19 onthe driving slide 6 has travelled through the slightly curved slotportion 23′ and has therefore kept the front edge of the panel 4 flushwith the fixed roof 2 or a seal thereof.

[0032] When, starting from the closed position of FIG. 1b, the drivingslide 6 is moved rearwardly (toward rear longitudinal guide track 8) inthe front longitudinal guide track 7, the panel 4 is moved to theposition of FIG. 1c. The lifting control element 14 travels along theother leg of the V-shaped guide curve 12 moving the rear side of thepanel 4 upwardly again but to a smaller extent, also due to the shape ofthe panel guide curve 11. The guide cam 21 of the rear slider 20 hasstarted to enter the rear longitudinal guide track 8 and the pin 19 ofthe driving slide has started to enter the vertical slot portion 23″ ofthe front support. The slide shoe 25 of the slightly moving frontsupport 9 has left the most sloping front portion 26 of the frontlongitudinal guide track 7 and the front edge of panel 4 has been movedupwardly.

[0033] In the following position of FIG. 1d, the guide cam 21 of therear slider 20 has fully entered the rear longitudinal guide track 8,and the lifting control element 14 has left the guide curve 12. Thelifting control element 14 has arrived at its end position of thesliding movement with respect to the panel 4. As the pin 19 of thedriving slide 6 has entered the vertical slot portion 23″ the drivingslide 6 now directly drives the panel 4 in its sliding movement.

[0034] When the driving slide 6 is moved further rearwardly, the panel 4is moved further back. The guide cam 21 of the rear slider 20 has takenover the support of the panel 4. The guide cam 21 moves through theinclined front portion of the rear longitudinal guide track 8 and as aresult, the rear side of the panel 4 is moved rearwardly and upwardly.The front side of the panel 4 also moves rearwardly and upwardly as theslide shoe 25 travels through the sloping portion of the frontlongitudinal guide track 7.

[0035] In FIG. 1e, the driving slide 6 has moved further back and theslide shoe 25 has now left the sloping front portion of the frontlongitudinal guide track 7. Pins 19 and 24 of the diving slide 6 canfreely move in the vertical slots 18 and 23 of the lifting controlelement 14 and the front support 9 to allow vertical movements of thepanel 4 without interfering with the driving operation of the drivingslide 6.

[0036] In FIG. 1f, the panel 4 has reached its fully open position inwhich a great part of the roof opening 1 has been cleared.

[0037] The return movement of the panel 4 to the front, closed positionwill be effected in an opposite manner.

[0038] In FIG. 7 there is shown an alternative embodiment of the roofassembly. The main difference of this embodiment with the firstembodiment is that the guiding device of the lifting device 10 is nowconstructed as a carriage 27 being pivotally connected to the panel 4through pivot 28 and having two slide shoes 29 and 30 adapted to slidethrough the rear longitudinal guide track 8. As is shown in thedrawings, the rear slide shoe 30 always remains in the straight portionof the rear longitudinal guide track 8, whereas the front slide shoe 29travels through the inclined front portion and exits the rearlongitudinal guide track 8 when the panel is in the front positions,i.e. closed and venting positions. During the sliding movement of thepanel 4, the upward movement of the rear side of the panel is determinedfirst by the rear portion of the guide curve 12 and then mainly by thetilting movement of the carriage 27 around the rear slide shoe 30.

[0039] From the foregoing it will be clear that the invention provides avery simple, yet robust, stable, reliable and low profile support andactuating mechanism for the closure element. The mechanism has arelatively small number of parts. The design is versatile and the roofpanel can be combined with other panels.

[0040] The invention is not restricted to the exemplary embodiment asdescribed above and shown in the drawing, which can be varied in severalways without departing from the scope of the claims. For example, it ispossible that in the second embodiment both slide shoes 29 and 30 exitthe rear longitudinal guide track 8 in the front positions of theclosure element 4 and enter the guide track 8 when the closure element 4is moved rearwardly. The guiding device performs both a support andlifting function in all embodiments shown and described above.

[0041] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto preferred embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize thatchanges may be made in form and detail without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle having an roof assembly for opening anopening in its fixed roof, comprising: a stationary part mounted to thevehicle roof, wherein said stationary part is fitted with at least onefront longitudinal guide track extending at least along the roofopening, and a rear longitudinal guide track that is mounted at leastsubstantially rearward of the roof opening; at least one closure elementmovably supported by said stationary part; an adjusting mechanismincluding a driving slide engaging at least one of the guide tracks,wherein said closure element is movable between a closed position forclosing the roof opening, and an open, rearward position for being atleast partially above the roof behind the roof opening, in which theroof opening is at least partially released; and where the closureelement is supported near its front side by a front support movablyguided by said front longitudinal guide track, and is supportedrearwards thereof by a lifting device comprising a guiding device forengagement in said rear longitudinal guide track upon rearward movementof the closure element, wherein the lifting device is adapted to tiltthe closure element from the closed position in the roof opening to anupwardly inclined venting position and to move the closure element fromthe closed position rearwardly.
 2. The vehicle according to claim 1,wherein the lifting device includes at least one guide curve which is inengagement with a lifting control element of the driving slide.
 3. Thevehicle according to claim 2, wherein the lifting device includes twoguide curves, one connected to the closure element and one connected tothe stationary part, the lifting control element of the driving slidebeing in engagement with both guide curves when in operation and beingadjustable in a vertical direction.
 4. The vehicle according to claim 3,wherein the guide curve connected to the stationary part issubstantially V-shaped in a side view, said lifting control element ofthe driving slide being positioned at a bottom portion of the V-shapewhen the closure element is in the closed position.
 5. The vehicleaccording to claim 4, wherein the guiding device is out of engagementwith the rear longitudinal guide track at least when the closure elementis in the venting position.
 6. The vehicle according to claim 5, whereinthe guiding device comes in engagement with the rear longitudinal guidetrack when the closure element is moved rearwardly from the closedposition, while said lifting control element of the driving slide thenbecomes disengaged from at least the guide curve connected to thestationary part.
 7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein theguiding device includes a rear slider fixed to the closure element tomove therewith, the rear slider being engagable with the rearlongitudinal guide track.
 8. The vehicle according to claim 1, whereinthe guiding device includes a carriage rotatably connected to theclosure element and having at least one and preferably two slide shoewhich is in engagement with the rear longitudinal guide track.
 9. Thevehicle according to claim 7, wherein the rear longitudinal guide trackincludes a front portion which is sloping downwardly in forwarddirection.
 10. The vehicle according to one of claims 7, wherein therear longitudinal guide track is laterally offset from the frontlongitudinal guide track and extends outwardly of a seal of the closureelement.
 11. The vehicle according to one of claims 7, wherein thelifting control element is engaged with the driving slide through apin-slot connection, and wherein the slot has at least a componentperpendicular to the front longitudinal guide track.
 12. The vehicleaccording to claim 1, wherein the driving slide and the closure elementare engaged through a pin-slot connection, of which the slot has a firstand second slot portion, the first slot portion being substantiallyparallel to the front longitudinal guide track and the second slotportion being substantially perpendicular to the front longitudinalguide track, the pin being in engagement with the second slot portionwhen the closure element is in rearwardly moved positions.
 13. Thevehicle according to claim 12, wherein the first slot portion isslightly curved to cause the front of the closure panel to move invertical direction when the pin runs through the slot.
 14. The vehicleaccording to claim 13, wherein the front longitudinal guide track has afront portion sloping downwardly at an angle to the front longitudinalguide track, the front support being in engagement with said frontportion when the closure element is in its front positions.
 15. A rootassembly for use in a vehicle having an opening in a fixed roof, theroof assembly comprising: a stationary part mountable to the vehicleroof, wherein said stationary part is fitted with at least one frontlongitudinal guide track extending at least along the roof opening, anda rear longitudinal guide track that is mounted at least substantiallyrearward of the roof opening; at least one closure element movablysupported by said stationary part; an adjusting mechanism including adriving slide engaging at least one of the guide tracks, wherein saidclosure element is movable between a closed position for closing theroof opening, and an open, rearward open position the closure elementbeing substantially parallel to the longitudinal guide tracks; and wherethe closure element is supported near its front side by a front supportmovably guided by said front longitudinal guide track, and is supportedrearwards thereof by a lifting device comprising a guiding device forengagement in said rear longitudinal guide track upon rearward movementof the closure element, wherein the lifting device is adapted to tiltthe closure element from the closed position in the roof opening to anupwardly inclined venting position and to move the closure element fromthe closed position rearwardly.
 16. The roof assembly according to claim15, wherein the lifting device includes at least one guide curve whichis in engagement with a lifting control element of the driving slide.17. The roof assembly according to claim 16, wherein the lifting deviceincludes two guide curves, one connected to the closure element and oneconnected to the stationary part, the lifting control element of thedriving slide being in engagement with both guide curves when inoperation and being adjustable in a vertical direction.
 18. The roofassembly according to claim 17, wherein the guide curve connected to thestationary part is substantially V-shaped in a side view, said liftingcontrol element of the driving slide being positioned at a bottomportion of the V-shape when the closure element is in the closedposition.
 19. The roof assembly according to claim 18, wherein theguiding device is out of engagement with the rear longitudinal guidetrack at least when the closure element is in the venting position. 20.The roof assembly according to claim 19, wherein the guiding devicecomes in engagement with the rear longitudinal guide track when theclosure element is moved rearwardly from the closed position, while saidlifting control element of the driving slide then becomes disengagedfrom at least the guide curve connected to the stationary part.
 21. Theroof assembly according to claim 15, wherein the guiding device includesa rear slider fixed to the closure element to move therewith, the rearslider being engagable with the rear longitudinal guide track.
 22. Theroof assembly according to claim 15, wherein the guiding device includesa carriage rotatably connected to the closure element and having atleast one and preferably two slide shoe which is in engagement with therear longitudinal guide track.
 23. The roof assembly according to claim22, wherein the rear longitudinal guide track includes a front portionwhich is sloping downwardly in forward direction.
 24. The roof assemblyaccording to one of claims 21, wherein the rear longitudinal guide trackis laterally offset from the front longitudinal guide track and extendsoutwardly of a seal of the closure element.
 25. The roof assemblyaccording to one of claims 21, wherein the lifting control element isengaged with the driving slide through a pin-slot connection, andwherein the slot has at least a component perpendicular to the frontlongitudinal guide track.
 26. The roof assembly according to claim 15,wherein the driving slide and the closure element are engaged through apin-slot connection, of which the slot has a first and second slotportion, the first slot portion being substantially parallel to thefront longitudinal guide track and the second slot portion beingsubstantially perpendicular to the front longitudinal guide track, thepin being in engagement with the second slot portion when the closureelement is in rearwardly moved positions.
 27. The roof assemblyaccording to claim 26, wherein the first slot portion is slightly curvedto cause the front of the closure panel to move in vertical directionwhen the pin runs through the slot.
 28. The roof assembly according toclaim 27, wherein the front longitudinal guide track has a front portionsloping downwardly at an angle to the front longitudinal guide track,the front support being in engagement with said front portion when theclosure element is in its front positions.